Part 2: STS-133 Discovery astronauts take part in countdown dress rehearsal

The six-member crew of the next space shuttle mission participated in a full launch dress rehearsal, known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test on Oct. 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The test provided an opportunity for the crew and ground teams to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization, emergency training and a simulated launch countdown. Discovery is targeted to launch Nov. 1 on its final scheduled flight. During its 11-day mission, astronauts will deliver and install the Permanent Multipurpose Module, critical spare components for the station, and the Express Logistics Carrier 4, an external platform that holds large equipment. Discovery also will deliver Robonaut 2, or R2, to become a permanent resident of the station as the first human-like robot in space.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLxQW-ELDX0&hl=en

STS-133 Astronauts Rehearse Launch Day During TCDT

The six astronauts who will fly space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station on STS-133 spent four days at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to participate in a launch countdown dress rehearsal known as Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT. If arecognizable person appears in this video, use for commercial purposes may infringe a right of privacy or publicity. It may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by NASA employees of a commercial product, process or service, or used in any other manner that might mislead. Accordingly, it is requested that if this video is used in advertising and other commercial promotion, layout and copy be submitted to NASA prior to release.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txtgdh8K1Zo&hl=en

STS-127 Endeavour's Astronauts Arrive at Kennedy for Launch [HD]

The seven astronauts set to launch aboard space shuttle Endeavour arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday afternoon, July 7, touching down at 1:13 pm EDT on the Shuttle Landing Facility in a Gulfstream jet. The STS-127 launch countdown will officially begin Wednesday at 10 pm when clocks begin ticking backward from T-43 hours. Liftoff is set for July 11 at 7:39 pm The STS-127 crew members are Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Dave Wolf, Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Tim Kopra and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBuC2nq4ZpA&hl=en

STS-125 Astronauts photography Kennedy Space Center

An almost nadir view of the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) was provided by one of the STS-125 crewmembers on the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Atlantis. KSC is the NASA space vehicle launch facility and launch control center (spaceport) on Merritt Island, Brevard County, Florida. The site is near Cape Canaveral, between Miami and Jacksonville. It is 34 miles (55 kilometers) long and around 6 miles (10 kilometers) wide, covering 219 square miles (567 square kilometers). Because much of KSC is a restricted area and only 9 percent of the land is developed, the site also serves as an important wildlife sanctuary; Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore are also features of this area. Pictured just below center is Launch Complex 39, with the roadway leading to the giant Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), 3 miles (5 kilometers) to the west (above) of the two launch pads. Located 5 miles (8 kilometers) south is the KSC industrial area, where many of the Center's support facilities and the administrative Headquarters Building are located. The Shuttle Landing Facility can be seen northwest of the VAB, in frame center.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1k8KKXi5IA&hl=en